Host of New Features and Incremental Improvements

Release 5.0 of VisualDSP++

Analog Devices has introduced VisualDSP++^® 5.0, the latest release of its integrated software development and debugging environment. Like all previous releases, VisualDSP++^® 5.0 targets applications based on ADI´s Blackfin^®, SHARC^® and TigerSHARC^® processors.

VisualDSP++^® consists of an integrated development environment, debugger, C/C++ compiler, assembler, linker, and simulator. Release 5.0 is a free of charge upgrade to all registered users of VisualDSP++^® and supports Windows^® XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Vista.

New Features and Incremental Improvements
This latest release of VisualDSP++^® includes a host of new features and incremental improvements, most of them derived from customer feedback and increasing requirements in the field of DSP applications.

Core File Support
This feature allows users to create core files (ELF file format) that contain the state of the target’s registers and memory blocks at any point in time. Later, the files can be loaded by the IDDE to restore the saved target state so that it can be examined. This capability can be used to send data to Analog Devices’ support, migrates a running .DXE file from an emulator to a simulator session, or help troubleshoot the effects of a program sequence.

Custom Board Support
Custom Board Support enables users to customize register windows (content and layout), specify register reset values, view the content of any register on the custom board and display the custom register windows via the VisualDSP++^® register menu.

License and Registration
License and registration enhancements include MAC address support when no Disk ID can be found (typically with Raid systems). Users can “check out” or “borrow” a floating license from a server for a predetermined amount of time and are now able to access VisualDSP++^® remotely from another computer.

Flash Programming
Offering a stand-alone Flash Programmer utility, VisualDSP++^® 5.0 provides flash programming support between the development and prototype stage. This enables the development engineer to automate the process of programming boards prior to major production with a license-free tool.

MISRA-C:2004 Blackfin^® and SHARC^® compilers provide comprehensive support for checking compliance with MISRA-C:2004, the motor industry´s C programming guidelines (MISRA, Motor Industry Software Reliability Association).

Binary File Support
VisualDSP++^® 5.0 supports binary file filling and dumping – dump memory to (and fill memory from) a binary file.

New Project Types
With VisualDSP++^® 5.0 the project wizard has been simplified.

Emulator Troubleshooting
There is a new documentation to troubleshoot emulator problems.

Call Stack Window
Thanks to call stack window enhancements, addresses and offsets will display when no debug or symbol information is contained in the application.

File System
File system support, a new service included in VisualDSP++^® 5.0, provides access to local mass storage media. Support for the ADSP-BF548 EZ-KIT Lite^® development board is provided for FAT file systems on the ATA and the Secure Digital Host interfaces (access to the attached hard disk drive and SD memory card).

USB OTG and new Drivers

A free 90-day test drive of VisualDSP++^® 5.0 can be downloaded at www.analog.com/processors/tools/testdrive

Additional Information
For more details regarding VisualDSP++^® 5.0, simply contact your SPOERLE representative or visit

www.analog.com

© SPOERLE 2008